2 December 2005 -- A Russian newspaper reports that Iran has signed a deal to buy Russian tactical surface-to-air missile systems.

The "Vedomosti" daily says Iran is to buy 29 TOR-M1 systems, designed to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes. In its report, the daily cites several unnamed sources in Russia's defense industry. It says an official at the Iranian embassy in Moscow would neither confirm nor deny the report.

If true, the deal would likely be the biggest sale of Russian defense hardware to Iran in five years.

Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear-power station at Bushehr. Tehran is under intense international pressure after failing to convince the United States and others its nuclear scientists are working on fuel for power stations rather than bombs.